Artificial body member and method of making the same



R. K. BROWN necgzs, 1937.

ARTIFICIAL BODY MEMBER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed April 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l K m 4 m N R W m K a Xuocum/ BY r R. K. BROWN ARTIFICIAL BODY MEMBER AND, METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed April 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 wmw F I] mT a 0 0 62 mM Q O w 'r6 INVENTOR.

Puooz/v/ 4342/ B ATTORNEYS Dec. 28, 1937.-

NUK 4.114

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL BODY MEMBER AND METHOD 1 I OF MAKING THE SAME Rudolph K. Brown, Morristown, N. J. Application April 22, 1936, Serial No. 75,676

'IClaims. My invention relatesjto improvements in artificial body members and the method of making an improved constructionfor an artificial body member which can be made economically and to suit any particular requirements or specifications, and which is strong, durablasanitary and relatively light. f

20 Otherobjects and advantages will hereinafter For. the purpose of illustrating my invention, an embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings, wherein; r I

25 Figure 1 is a plan view of the reinforcing body partfrom which an artificial shin is built up;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, illustrative of the manner in. which an artificial shin is built. up from the reinforcing base part in Fig. 1;

30 Fig. 3 is a perspective view, illustrative of the manner in which an artificial foot is built up in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 4 is'a perspective view, illustrative of the manner in which an artificial thigh or corset is 35 built up in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, diagrammatic view, illustrative of the various steps in the method of making my improved body members;

Fig. 6 is an elevational, sectional view of a com- 40 plete artificial leg comprising the various parts madein accordance with my invention, the section being taken on theline tie- 6 in Fig. '7;

i Fig. 7 is an elevationalview, partly in section, the section being taken on the line 1-1 in Fig.

45 6; and a V V Fig. 8 is an enlarged, detailed sectional view, the section being taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

With reference now to the drawings, an artificial shin is built up and constructed in accord- 50 ance with my present invention by first cutting out a piece ll] of hardware cloth or woven metal mesh to substantially the shape shown in Fig. 1,

' which piece constitutes the reinforcing body from which the member is built up. For this purpose,

5; it is proposed to use one quarter inch mesh. The

piece I is then applied to a wooden form l2 as shown in Fig. 2, and reaches around the form and, is clamped thereto and molded about the same with the hands and a light hammer. By means of suitable tongs, the wire mesh is pulled .together at the adjacent edges [4 and i6, and the surplus material is lapped overto insure aclose fit. The wire mesh is lapped over to form a seam, as might be required to make the mesh conform exactly to the shape of the wooden;-form.l2, and 10 the seam is held togetherwith staples. V

The molded metal mesh is then opened at the adjacent edges l4 and I6 and removed from the wooden form l2, after which it is returned to the desired shape and the adjacent edges l4. and I6 secured together.

The body member I 0 of wire mesh is then Wrapped or bound with gauze such as bandage roll. By cutting the strips l8 on the bias, the

edges thereof are caused to lie close to the metal mesh. In this Way, the wire mesh body I 0 is provided with a first wrapping 20 of gauze.

The next step in my improved method consists in dippingthe wrapped wire mesh body l0 into a solution of acetone containing pyridine CsHsN and lampblack, there being about one part by weight oflampblack to ten parts by weight of pyridine. The assembly is .then removed from the bath andpermitted to dry. The lampblack in the bath serves the purpose of avoiding brittleness of the resulting coating when thesolution dries.

Another gauze wrapping 22 is then applied, and the assembly again dipped and permitted to dry as before.

A third gauze wrapping 24 is applied. and the assembly again dipped in the bath and permitted to; dry.

"Side bars 26 and. 28, provided with the loops 30 and 32, respectively, are applied to the sides of the assembly and secured in placeby rivets 34, as shown in Fig. 8.

A, fourth gauze wrapping 36 is then applied, and the assembly dipped in the bath and permitted to dry, after which there follows a fifth gauze wrapping 38, another dipping and drying of the assembly, and then a sixth gauze wrapping 40.

The assembly is now dipped and dried several times to'apply an outside, protective, waterproof coating 42. As a result of the various dippings, also, there is an inside coating 44 of the waterproof material.

The method of manufacture just described results in a construction comprising wrappings of gauze with layers of water-proofing material between the respective adjacent wrappings. The outside socket of the shin piece now appears as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The inside socket 48 is made in the same manner as the outside socket, and is placed inside the latter as more clearly shown in Fig. 6, and the adjacent edges of the two sockets sealed together at 50 by applying several coatings of the water-proofing material.

A wooden plug 52 is inserted into the ankle end of the member 46 to receive bolts 54 which also pass through a shim or spacer part 56. The lower ends of the bolts are threaded into a bearing element 58 which is associated with the part 56 as shown and about which is placed a U- shaped bolt 60 which is anchored in the foot member 62.

Elements 54, 58 and 60 connect the shin member 46 and the foot member 62 for pivotal movement with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis of the bearing element 58.

The shim 56 provides for an adjustment for the purpose of shortening or lengthening the artificial leg. For example, if it is desired to lengthen the leg, the shim 56 is replaced by an other one having greater thickness, as might be required.

The leg is provided with drainage openings 64 and with ventilating openings 66.

The foot member 62 is constructed, as shown in Fig. 3, in the same manner as the shin member 46. That is, a wooden form 68 is first made and wire mesh 10 molded and fitted around this form. The mesh is then removed and the wooden form cut down as more clearly shown in Fig. 6, to make'the construction lighter without detracting from the required strength, after which the wire mesh is again applied to the wooden form 68. The wrapping and dipping steps are then carried on alternatively until the foot member is built up to the required thickness and strength. Openings [2 are provided for drainage.

A rubber bumper element 14 is disposed between the plug 52 and the wooden form 68, the shim 56 being drilled so that the bumper element passes through, as shown.

The corset member 16 is made up as shown in Fig. 4, in the same manner as the shin member 46 and the foot member 62. That is, wire mesh 18 is first molded and fitted about a suitable wooden form after which it is removed from the form. The steps of wrapping and dipping are then carried on alternatively to build this part up to the required thickness and strength, after which the assembly is out along the broken lines 88 to get the desired contour. Several coatings of the water-proofing material are then applied to finish off the piece. In constructing this part, side bars 82, each provided with a loop 84, are riveted in place as shown, after the third wrapping.

A knee joint 86, of conventional construction, comprises the arms 88 and 90 pivotally connected at 92 and extending through the loops 30, 32 and 84. The arms 88 and 98 are secured in place by screws 94 and are threaded into tapped openings 96 in the side bars.

In making an adjustment, as required, the screws 94 are removed, and the arms 88 and 98 moved along the required distance, after which the screws are again tightened, it being understood that the spacing of the tapped openings 96 is correct to permit this.

Strands 98 of raw hide connect the members 46 and 16, as shown, to limit pivotal movement of these members in one direction.

In making up the corset member 16, suitable hooks I06 are riveted in place for the usual lacing to hold the corset in place about the stump.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an improved construction for an artificial body member which is waterproof, and which can be worn in the water as long as and as often as might be desired without resulting in any damage to or impairment of operation of the parts. It will be seen, further, that my improved method of construction is relatively simple and inexpensive, and makes possible the manufacture of artificial members in a comparatively simple manner and to satisfy any particular requirements or specifications.

Artificial body members made in accordance with my invention, as explained, are relatively light, durable, strong, and sanitary, and in the case of an artificial leg, can be adjusted in a simple and inexpensive manner.

It will be understood that various modifications might be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of making an artificial body member which comprises shaping wire mesh to the form required, wrapping the shaped wire mesh with gauze, dipping such assembly in a waterproofing material, and repeating such wrapping and dipping steps alternately until the member is built up to the required thickness and strength.

2. As an article of manufacture, an artificial body member comprising a reenforcing body of wire mesh, a plurality of wrappings of gauze about said body, layers of water-proofing material interposed between the respective adjacent wrappings, and a coating of water-proofing material over the outside wrapping.

3. As an article of manufacture, an artificial body member comprising a reenforcing body of substantially one-quarter inch wire mesh, wrappings of gauze about said body in number of the order of six, layers of water-proofing material interposed between the respective adjacent wrappings, and a coating of water-proofing material over the outside wrapping.

4. As an article of manufacture, an artificial shin member comprising a reeniorcing body of wire mesh, a plurality of wrappings of gauze about said body, layers of water-proofing material interposed between the respective adjacent wrappings, side bars each provided with a loop and with a series of tapped holes and each embedded in said member between two of the adjacent wrappings, and a coating of water-proofing material over the outside wrapping.

5. As an article of manufacture, an artificial thigh member comprising a reenforcing body of wire mesh, a plurality of wrappings of gauze about said body, layers of water-proofing material interposed between the respective adjacent wrappings, hook elements embedded in said member along the opposite edges thereof, and a coating of water-proofing material over the outside wrapping.

6. The method of making an artificial thigh member which comprises shaping wire mesh to the form required, wrapping the shaped wire mesh with gauze, dipping such assembly in a waterproofing material, repeating such wrapping and dipping steps alternately until the limb is built up to the required thickness and strength, and cutting away a portion of such assembly to give the required configuration to said member.

7. The method of making an artificial foot member which comprises shaping wire mesh to a foot-shape block, removing the foot-shaped wire mesh, removing unnecessary portions of said block, replacing the wire mesh on said block, wrapping such assembly with gauze, dipping such assembly in a water-proofing material, and

repeating such Wrapping and. dipping steps alternately until the member is built up to the required 5 thickness and. strength.

RUDOLPH K. BROWN. 

